Organisational justice and employees’ work behaviour in public secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria

Efficient service delivery in educational organisations all over has become critical elements of the educational process for more reasons than one. Considering the role of education in the nation building, it calls to questions if employee work behaviour in an educational organisation fails to meet the required standard and expectation. This study examined the in influence of organizational justice on employee work behaviour in public secondary schools in Lagos state. Three research questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Relevant literatures were reviewed. The study adopted ex-post-facto research design and the population for this study comprised 18,054 teachers in the 671 public senior and junior secondary schools in the six Education Districts of Lagos State. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 1,074 teachers comprising 534 and 540 senior and junior secondary school teachers respectively as participants for the study. The researcher administered 1,074 copies of questionnaire and 1,040 copies of the questionnaire were returned and good for analysis. This represented 97% return rate which is high enough for the study. The data obtained through the instrument were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation, while the hypotheses were tested using One Sample t-test and Pearson Moment Correlation. The three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that: employees’ disposition to work is poor, the two organizational justice variables tested had significant relationships to employees’ work behaviour. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended amongst others that: school principals should cultivate justice culture in their daily administrative practices as this will enhance teachers’ positive work behaviour in the school system.Keywords: Organisational Justice, Employee Work Behaviour, Procudural Justic

National Health Insurance Scheme Services and Patient Satisfaction: The Nigerian Experience

Healthcare delivery in the present day involves not just treating the patient but also paying attention to the overall satisfaction the patient derives while obtaining the service. This has made satisfaction in healthcare services a top priority for both healthcare professionals and patients. However, the costs of healthcare services continue to be key sources of hardship for many households, hence the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) service in Nigeria to lessen the financial burden of accessing healthcare. The study investigated how patient satisfaction is impacted by NHIS service in a teaching hospital in Nigeria. The population consists of all enrollees of NHIS at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). Copies of the questionnaire used for the study were administered to NHIS enrollees seeking medical care in three departments of the hospital, namely: General out-patient, Maternity, and Dental. Out of the 200 questionnaires administered, 182 (General out-patient department – 79, Maternity department – 52, and Dental – 51) were found usable. To access the patients in the aforementioned departments of UBTH, convenience sampling, a form of non-probability sampling method, was applied. The method was chosen because it allows for simple access to and contact with target respondents. Multiple regression analysis was used to establish the statistical significance and relationship between patient satisfaction and NHIS services, such as accessibility, empathy, reliability, tangibility, responsiveness, and waiting time. The study found that accessibility, reliability, and waiting time have a significant impact on patient satisfaction with NHIS services. The study recommends that a more efficient and sustainable model should be designed and implemented in hospitals to minimise waiting time by engaging more health professionals and experts, as well as re-engineering the existing patient flow should be incorporated into the model. The study concludes that empirically investigating the quality of NHIS services and patient satisfaction in healthcare is important in several ways. First, it increases our understanding of service quality and patient satisfaction in particular, as well as service marketing in general, thereby laying the groundwork for future research. Secondly, the management of healthcare organisations will be able to spot any unsatisfactory service elements, which will serve as the basis for designing effective strategies to raise service quality in the healthcare industry

Risk Assessment Model for Pluvial Flood Prediction Using Fuzzy-Based Classification Technique

Both developed and developing countries are promoting risk management and refining the ability to alleviate the effects of disaster both man-made and natural, which have become a threat to human life and the world’s economy. The variability in climate change, rapid urbanization and fast-growing socio-economic development has naturally increased the risk associated with flooding. A recent report showed that flood have affected more individuals than any other category of disaster in the 21st century with the highest percentage of 43% of all disaster events in 2019 and Africa been the second vulnerable continent after Asia. So, it is highly important to devise a scientific method for flood risk reduction since it cannot be eradicated. Machine learning can improve the risk management. The paper proposes a pluvial flood detection and prediction system based on machine learning techniques. The proposed model will employ a fuzzy rule-based classification approach for pluvial flood risk assessment. Keywords: Machine Learning, Pluvial Flood, Risk, Fuzzy Rule-Based, Prediction DOI: 10.7176/CEIS/12-1-07 Publication date: January 31st 202

Consumers' acceptability of iodine-biofortified tomato in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

Higher exposure rate to certain chemicals found in processed foods that reduce iodine absorption and a depletion in the amount of iodine found in soil have been reported to be detrimental to health. This study seeks to examine the consumers' acceptability and willingness to pay a price premium for iodine-enriched tomatoes in Abeokuta, southwest, Nigeria. Primary data were used to collect a sample of 300 respondents. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) under double bounded dichotomous choice approach. The use of dichotomous choice (DC) method in explaining the willingness to pay (WTP) in contingent valuation studies is a common method in Economics. Research has shown that double-bounded Dichotomous Choice methods provide statistically superior outcomes than single bounded methods, given appropriate sampling design. Results from the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents revealed a mean age of 42 years and are mainly (83%) in their economic active age (<50 years), 69% male respondents, 63% were married and 53% of the respondents had prior knowledge of iodine-biofortified tomato. It was also revealed that 58% of the respondent are willing to accept and pay a premium for iodine-biofortified tomato. Although, the proportion of the respondents who were willing to pay generally decreases with increases in price. It is concluded that age, level of education, income, prior knowledge and bid price were the significant factors influencing respondents' willingness to pay a price premium for iodine-biofortified tomato in the study area.Keywords: acceptability, contingent valuation method, iodine-biofortified tomato, price premiu

Appraisal of access to safe drinking water in southwest Nigeria

The importance of developing effective water supply services is universally recognised as a basis for improving the overall health of the population. This study ascertained the quality of water supplied by a water treatment scheme in southwest Nigeria. One hundred and twelve samples were collected during the wet and dry seasons. Tests on physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters were conducted. Statistical analysis of variance was carried out on the results of the test. The effectiveness of the treatment processes on the parameters considered showed that the aeration, sedimentation and filtration processes were 70.13% effective in colour removal; sedimentation and filtration processes were 94.78% effective in turbidity removal; sedimentation and filtration process were 28.84% effective in the removal of total suspended solids (TSS) and 9.88% effective in the removal of total solids (TS); the disinfection and filtration processes were 100% effective in bacterial and coliform removal. The treatment system was found to be 71.38% effective in pollutant removal

Socio-economic status of women in group membership in selected areas of Kwara State, Nigeria

This paper examines the socio-economic status of women in group membership in selected areas of Kwara State, Nigeria with a view of discussing the benefit they enjoyed from this group. It has been reported that women farmers have been disadvantaged in term of access to land and credit availability among others. The study was conducted in selected villages in Kwara State. Cluster random sampling was used for this research. Data collected from the study were subjected to Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. It was found that the average age of members in the women groups is 31 years (84%). All the women are married (100%). However, majority of the women have no formal education (86%). Most benefits enjoyed by the members of women groups are loans and credit secured (91.8%), provision of assistance during hardship (80.6%) and boosting of income (50.7%). The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that the variables (age, educational level, credit secured and income) together explained 30.3% of the total variation in group membership (R2 = 0.303). The Pearson correlation result revealed a significant relationship between age (r = -0.424, P<0.05), educational level (r = -0.440, P<0.05), credit secured (r = 0.359, P<0.05), income (r = 0.430, P<0.05) and group membership. From the results, it is recommended that the women groups should be strengthened and supported by the government through credit availability and training for the group leaders on group dynamics more than what they are experiencing presently. Moreover, the extension agents should advice and frequently follow up and visit the women group

Detection and prediction of pluvial flood using machine learning techniques

The periodical occurrence of emergency situations represents an important issue for mankind. Over the years, the world at large has experienced multiple misadventures both natural and man-made. A recent report showed that flood have affected more individuals than any other category of disaster in the 21st century with the highest percentage of 43% of all disaster events in 2019 and Africa been the second vulnerable continent after Asia. Handling flood risk with the intention of safety and comfort of the citizens as well as saving their environment is one of the major responsibilities of the leadership in each country especially in flood prone areas. Machine learning predictive analytic applications can improve the risk management. So, it is highly important to devise a scientific method for flood risk reduction since it cannot be eradicated. The paper proposes a pluvial flood detection and prediction system based on machine learning techniques. The proposed model will employ a fuzzy rule-based classification to appraise the performance of the machine learning algorithm on pluvial flood conditioning variables

Potential of Breadfruit Meal as Alternative Energy Source to Maize in Diet of Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the response of broiler chickens to diets containing breadfruit meal (BFM). Two hundred and fifty-six (256) day-old unsexed Anak 2000 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to the eight dietary treatments consisting of four replicates of eight chicks each. The experimental layout was a 2×4 factorial arrangement with two types of breadfruit meal (raw and cooked breadfruit meal) and four levels (0, 10, 20, 30%) of each BFM (Table 2). The diets were balanced for energy and crude protein. Cooking of the BFM increased (P<0.05) daily weight gain of birds while it decreased (P<0.05) with increase in inclusion level of BFM. The interaction between processing and inclusion levels of BFM was significant (P<0.05) for daily weight gain, feed/gain and protein efficiency ratio. Crude fibre (CF), ash and nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibility reduced (P<0.05) in cooked BFM diets while inclusion of BFM increased the NFE digestibility and reduced ash digestibility. Processing of BFM had no effect (P>0.05) on the measured serum metabolites except serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) which was reduced (P<0.05) with processing of BFM. Uric acid decreased (P<0.05) while globulin increased (P<0.05) with increased inclusion level of BFM. Relative weights of breast muscle, drumstick and thigh were higher in birds fed cooked BFM. Total cost of feed consumed per bird and cost of feed per kg weight gain decreased (P<0.05) in the BFM diets. Total cost of feed consumed per bird was higher (P<0.05) in cooked BFM but the cost of feed per kg weight gain decreased (P<0.05) in the cooked BFM

Developing emotionally competent engineers for the ever-changing built environment

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-08-2022-0806As the world experiences a rapid rise in technological advances, the engineering profession will be required to become even more socially responsible and emotionally stable to be able to display higher levels of empathy towards the society they serve. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the key emotional competencies (ECs) that engineers need to possess to thrive in the construction industry after graduation. A quantitative research approach was conducted with close-ended questionnaires developed and administered to built environment professionals such as architects, construction managers, construction project managers, engineers and quantity surveyors. The results showed that the ability to display a positive outlook on life, understand one’s emotional triggers, ability to display resilience in hard times, control one’s emotions and ability to show compassion to others were the highest-ranked ECs. Further analysis revealed four clusters such as self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation and self-motivation. Practical guidance for higher education institutions is offered in terms of revamping and revisiting their engineering education curricula to develop these ECs to produce emotionally sound engineers for the ever-changing world of work. As the world of work becomes increasingly dynamic and diverse, engineers will be required to possess empathy, social skills and high levels of ECs to be able to seamlessly interact with fellow professionals as well as the society they serve